No room for domestic violence acts in Lagos, says Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has vowed that his administration would leave no stone unturned to ensure that all perpetrators of domestic violence are made to face the wrath of the law.

The governor made the vow on Thursday when he led a walk on tagged ‘All Male Walk against Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in Lagos.

Addressing participants at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Ambode said it was time for men to stand up and take the bull by the horns in tackling the menace of SGBV in the society, adding that research has shown that women are more prone to being victims of these crimes.

“There is also an evident trend of suppressing the voice of these victims due to the fact that these acts are perpetrated largely by men. We should not take for granted the potential exponential effect of having emotionally and psychologically damaged women in a society as the effect could transcend to their children who grow up in an environment, thinking this is the norm,” the Governor said.

While alluding to the fact that the State Government had initiated several programs ranging from the provision of legal aid, shelter and psychological counseling services to assist these women, he said it was also pertinent to address the violent behavior of men as it concerns Rape, Domestic Violence and Child Abuse.

He said, “The scale of men’s violence against women is enormous and its effect, demoralizing. Men as grandfathers, fathers, brothers, sons, husbands and public advocates have a pivotal role to play in condemning all forms of violence against women, girls and boys.

“We firmly believe that the way forward is to continuously engage the male folk as well as the community as a whole. Community engagement is an essential part of working to prevent and respond to all forms of Gender Based Violence.

“As men, we must stand up and speak in one voice, condemning these acts. No more would we condone or tolerate peadophiles, women beaters and rapists. It is inhumane and totally unacceptable to protect or even ignore such behaviour when we see it manifesting in our environment”.